Freeman believes Braves can win NL East
ATLANTA - The Atlanta Braves hardly sound like a team coming off a last-place finish.
These guys are talking playoffs.
"We've said it the last couple of years. We mean it this year," slugging first baseman Freddie Freeman said, his voice teeming with optimism. "We feel like we can win the National League East."
Atlanta was once one of baseball's most successful franchises, most notably setting a big league record with 14 straight division titles.
But the Braves fell on hard times after their last postseason appearance in 2013, going through a painful rebuilding process and three straight losing seasons.
A year ago, they lost 93 games and sank to the bottom of the standings for the first time since 1990. But a revamped roster and strong finish under interim manager Brian Snitker gives the team a surge of optimism heading into the first season at its new home, SunTrust Park.
"No one wanted to play us in September," Freeman said. "We were just picking teams off at the end."